The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved the full initial proposals for Alabama and Florida for the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Alabama will have access to more than $1.4 billion and Florida will have access to more than $1.1 billion to fund BEAD projects. The states can now move to the implementation phase of the BEAD program, during which they can select providers and projects to pass the funding to. Alabama and Florida will have one year to submit a final proposal that details the outcome of the subgrantee selection process and how the state will ensure service to all unserved and underserved locations. 55 jurisdictions have now had their full initial BEAD proposals approved. Texas is the only jurisdiction that is waiting for approval for its initial proposal.
